Good Lord!
What monsters!
There is a petition to sign in the middle of the story if interested.
Dog's death felt around world
Web Posted: 09/06/2007 01:33 AM CDT
Roger Croteau
Express-News
NEW BRAUNFELS - The arrest of three Guadalupe County boys last week on
charges of torturing and killing a puppy has triggered an
international Internet reaction: heated discussions in chat rooms, an
online petition urging stiff prosecution and a song by a British
recording artist. More than 7,500 people had signed the petition by
late Wednesday, with dozens more names being added each hour. Many
left messages offering to deliver the same punishment to the boys that
the boys are accused of inflicting on the dog, a Pomeranian named Toby.
The boys, ages 12, 14 and 16, found Toby roaming loose Aug. 28 near
Geronimo. They took the dog to a nearby abandoned house, where they
broke its legs, hung it upside down from a tree, beat in with a board
with protruding nails, burned it with a lighter and finally beheaded
it, prosecutors said.
Since the story first was reported, Toby's owners, Leonora Tavera and
her daughter Stephanie, have seen an outpouring of support.
"It's surprising," Leonora Tavera said. "It makes me feel good. I
never thought there would be so many people that would take this up."
She said the support has helped her daughter deal with the death of
her pet. A Seguin police officer gave Stephanie a new puppy.
"It's a miniature schnauzer and it's really cute, just tiny," Tavera
said. "Stephanie is potty training her now."
Guadalupe County prosecutors have also been deluged by phone calls.
They already had pledged to push to keep the boys locked up as long as
possible, and they're slightly irritated by the online petition, at
tinyurl.com/28u6jd, urging just that.
"It has really touched a nerve," said Assistant County Attorney Nan
Udell. "I think it's wonderful that so many people are willing to put
forward the effort to get involved. But at a certain level, I'm
offended by people telling me to prosecute a case that I'm already
working so hard on."
An English recording artist, Maria Daines, quickly wrote and recorded
"Tobey's (sic) Song," with the chorus, "Tobey was precious, Tobey was
loved, Now angels cradle his soul up above."
Dozens decried the attack in postings to a MySpace.com message board
called "Dogs are the best" but argued over whether the three boys need
therapy or a physical punishment similar to what Toby suffered.
The three are charged with cruelty to animals resulting in death. If
charged as adults, they could be jailed for two years. But as
juveniles, they could be kept in a Texas Youth Commission facility
until they turn 19, which Udell said is her goal.
"Behavior like this is an indicator that they will victimize others in
the future. That's what makes this so scary," she said.
Harvey Ginsburg, a psychology professor at Texas State University-San
Marcos, said children who commit crimes similar to this often have
been victims of violence themselves. Udell said her office is looking
into the boys' background but has not found anything like that.
Ginsburg said, "These kids need to be in an institution now. I'm kind
of left speechless."
He said his first thought was to wonder how much the boys knew about
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick's recent guilty plea to
dogfighting charges. In that case, Vick was accused of hanging and
drowning dogs that did not show promise as fighters.
Though most people reacted with revulsion to that case, "it's all in
the mind of the beholder," Ginsburg said. "Certain people may
interpret it very differently."
Children who idolize Vick, and who lack empathy, could be prompted to
copy him, he said.
"They have an inability to walk in another's shoes," Ginsburg said.
"They have a far more limited emotional capacity to feel the pain or
joy of others. They were treating this puppy like a stuffed animal.
They just don't get it."
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Susan J. DuBose >^..^<
www.PetGirlsPetsitting.com
www.Tx.SiameseRescue.org
www.shadowcats.net
"As Cleopatra lay in state,
Faithful Bast at her side did wait,
Purring welcomes of soft applause,
Ever guarding with sharpened claws."
Trajan Tennent
